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Published: July 09, 2008 11:32 am
Lenard Theron Godwin
Lenard Theron Godwin, 87, of Ardmore, Okla., was born November 10, 1920 in Briggs, Texas to James Perry and Mattie (Hasty) Godwin. He passed away July 5, 2008 in Ardmore.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at Griffin-Hillcrest Funeral Home with Minister Danny Hunstman officiating.
Burial will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery in Ardmore. Arrangements are under the direction of Griffin-Hillcrest Funeral Home in Ardmore.
After graduating from Ardmore High School, Theron married Janet Marie Maddox on Jan. 3, 1942 in Ardmore and moved to Richmond, Calif., to work in the wartime shipyards. He returned to the Ardmore area in 1943 and later relocated to Escalon, Calif., eventually making his way to Modesto, Calif., working at a large commercial dairy farm.
In the early 1950s, Theron moved back to Ardmore and opened a skating rink in the old armory, all the while maintaining his own dairy farm. During that time he also owned and operated the Sinclair Service Station at 15th and Commerce and a skating rink in Healdton.
In 1960 he opened a bowling alley in Pauls Valley.
In Wilburton, Okla., he built and operated a bowling alley and later Roland’s Restaurant. In 1965, Theron sold all of his businesses and moved to Tulsa, working for Rheem Steel building oilfield tanks. In 1967 he moved to Mesita, Colo., where he raised barley.
In 1968 he moved back to Pauls Valley where he took back control of the bowling alley, eventually selling it..
In 1970 he opened Past Time Recreation in Pauls Valley and the skating rink in Wynnewood.
From 1978 to 1981, Theron operated a dairy farm in Pooleville with his son; relocating to Ardmore, he ran his dairy farm until 1983. After 1983 he moved to Madill and opened an ice business. He retired from business after his second wife, Lillie, passed away.
He enjoyed picking up pecans and was a lover of animals.
Theron’s survivors include three sons: Jim Godwin and wife Sonnia of Pooleville, Tracy Godwin and wife Vicki of Ada, and Wendell Godwin and wife Susie of Coppell, Texas; nine grandchildren: LaJuana Choate, Ginger Waller, Kim Godwin, Chris T. Godwin, Kelli Brown, Jake Godwin, Benjamin Godwin, Adam Godwin and Samuel Godwin; 10 great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Ruby Martin and husband Leonard of Ardmore.
Preceding him death are his parents; wife, Lillie Mae Costner; son, Dennis Wayne Godwin in 1972; one brother, Robert Godwin; and one sister, Venita Thomas.
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